Anti-snobbery has been prevalent in fashion over the past year or so. It's quite correct to have snapped up your sunglasses for a fiver on the market, provided you can point out (1) how exactly like the Prada/Gucci/Versace originals they really are, and (2) how they differ ("I know the screws are a bit naff, but I'm only going to end up sitting on them or leaving them in the back of a taxi").

When it comes to furniture, though, apologies are still in order: cheaper is definitely second best. If you had the money, you'd be down B&B Italia waving around your platinum card, or combing eBay for Eames originals. But change is on the way. And you'll be thanking Argos for it. As its new television advertising campaign makes abundantly clear, Argos is not just a place selling kettles and clothes dryers for breadline dwellers.

For those of you who haven't seen the ad, Richard E Grant plays a repulsively smug rock star whose latest partner really has left with everything, including the kitchen sink. Julia Sawalha, his long-suffering PA, is saddled with the task of a rapid refurbishment of his (now-bachelor) pad. And guess what - she does it all from Argos!

As with many ads, this one demands a certain suspension of disbelief, but it does show that Argos is sneaking its way into the world of modern furniture. The Argos catalogue is, of course, BIGGER THAN EVER. But before you scoff, that means 3,000 new products, and not all of them are toasters. There is a rather nice chrome-framed bed (£179), Artek-style chairs (from £60), a non-squashy leather sofa (£600) and a lot of decent chrome bathroom accessories. I can hear the whisperings already. "Oh no, it's not the really expensive Conran Shop towel rack. But, you know, I'll probably replace it in a couple of years, so it's perfect."

For home delivery (free for purchases over £100), call Argos Direct on 0870 600 2020.